36 | APRIL 2019
Motoring
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
DRIVING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Mobile communications and
GPS systems used as sat-navs are
becoming very common in cars.
Whether you are connecting your
Bluetooth to blast tunes or look-
ing for the nearest Waitrose, these
have become a fundamental part
of the daily drive for many of us.
This week’s tips give advice on
using technology to complement
your driving, from IAM RoadS-
mart’s head of driving and riding
standards Richard Gladman.
• Whilst a sat-nav aids in getting
you from A to B try to not be-
come reliant on it. It is impor-
tant to pay attention to road
signs and the road ahead, in
case there’s a diversion sign
that the device may not have
picked up
• Get to know your sat-nav
before you set off and always
programme it when station-
ary. Many people trust their
sat-navs not to get them lost
but you also need to know
about roadworks, diversions
and places to stop. Keep an
old-fashioned map to ensure
that you limit the chances of
going completely off track
• Create your playlist before
you start your journey. Taking
your eyes of the wheel to look
or adjust your music can often
prove to be hazardous. It only
takes a few seconds distrac-
tion to cause an accident.
Remember to also keep your
music down in some circum-
stances; your hearing can
keep you safe, so be prepared
to turn the music off
• Don’t make or take calls when
driving and never text or en-
gage with social media on your
smartphone. Through extensive
research it has been shown that
making calls, even hands-free,
affects concentration and slows
reactions when driving
• Some vehicles can create a
Wi-Fi zone allowing internet
access. This should be used as
a luxury for passengers whilst
ensuring they do not distract
you as the driver. For instance,
a computer screen reflecting
in the dark is a dangerous
distraction
Richard said: “The latest driver
assistance systems can be the
perfect back-up to cover our occa-
sional human failings but are no
substitutes for concentration. The
driver must always remain con-
nected to what is going on around
them. Multi-tasking is a myth and
all too often that glance away can
become a complete switch-off to
an emerging risk. No text, tweet,
check in or status update is worth
crashing for.”
www.iamroadsmart.com
GEM CALLS ON
COURTS TO GET
TOUGH ON ‘TOTTERS’
ROAD SAFETY and breakdown organisation
GEM Motoring Assist is urging courts across the
country to get tough on drivers and riders who
accumulate 12 penalty points on their licences.
Business Class: Vauxhall
Launches Van Business Centres
Luton – Vauxhall has appointed a
The call comes as a
further example emerges of
a driver who successfully in-
voked the ‘exceptional hard-
ship’ excuse and managed
to persuade magistrates that
he should be allowed to
continue driving.
Andrew Prangell of Swan-
Nearly 11,000 people are
age was convicted last
driving with 12 or more
month of failing to give
points on their licences,
information relating to the
according to figures releases
driver of a Vauxhall van, fol-
in October 2018.
lowing offences committed
GEM road safety officer
last year. He received six
commented: “A driving
points for each count but
ban should be inevitable
escaped a ban after magis-
for anyone who has man-
trates heard an exceptional
aged to tot up 12 penalty
hardship plea.
points on their licence.
It takes a particularly
careless, thoughtless or
reckless person to reach
this level, and their dis-
regard for the law means
they each represent a
big risk for the rest of us
who share the roads with
them.”
network of Van Business Centres nationwide
that offer the highest standards of custom-
er service in sales, aftersales and workshop
services, for its multi award-winning light
commercial vehicle (LCV) range that carries
British business.
Each Van Business Centre will display Vaux-
hall’s full LCV range, and have available for
test-drive the all-new Combo Cargo – 2019’s
International Van of the Year – the Brit-
ish-built Vivaro, and the Movano large van.
All 65 Van Business Centres employ
dedicated LCV sales consultants, who are
highly-trained to provide a personal response
in line with the customer’s business require-
ments.
Vauxhall-trained technicians will fit only
genuine Vauxhall parts, with a one-year war-
ranty. Courtesy vehicles will be available in
the event of a customer’s vehicle being immo-
bilised, so that they can keep their business
moving.
Van Business Centres offer full transparency
with national, all-inclusive pricing. Customers
are given a full explanation of work carried
out with regular progress updates.
For added convenience for business users,
Van Business Centres will all offer overnight
drop off and pick up availability. When pre-
booked, 90 minute express servicing is also
available. Customers can book their vehicle in
online, 24 hours a days, seven days a week.
Van Business Centres have to meet a strict
selection criteria. Only sites that can provide
sales and service support and meet strict ser-
vice level requirements can qualify.
“This important change demonstrates our
commitment to looking after the needs of our
LCV customers, by delivering a service level
that matches up to our outstanding product
range, that helps carry British business,” said
Derek Wilson, Vauxhall’s LCV Director.